Nationwide prosecutor shortages hit Madison County as certain crime trends jump
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - The Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office is operating with fewer prosecutors than it needs, and local leaders say the gap is beginning to strain an already demanding justice system.
“We’re having to do more with less,” said State’s Attorney Thomas Haine. “And that’s not sustainable when we’re dealing with serious felony cases every day.”
Haine said his office is down about 10% in staff. That figure is smaller than in some larger metro areas, but it is still enough to spark concern. Nationwide, cities like Houston and Los Angeles reported 15% vacancy rates among prosecutors at the end of 2023. Miami stood at 33%, according to one study.
According to several studies, as well as Haine, the reasons for the shortages are widespread, driven by low pay, high stress and burnout, political pressure and a shrinking pool of applicants willing to take on demanding public service roles.
To close the gap, Madison County has launched a digital hiring campaign. The initiative includes recruitment videos and outreach on social media. Haine says it is already producing results.
“We’ve seen more applicants in the last two weeks than we had in the last six months,” he said.
The effort comes at a time when prosecutors are managing a heavy and diverse caseload, ranging from drug and gun offenses to fraud, domestic violence and crimes against children.
“It all comes back to keeping the community safe. We need strong, steady teams to handle the volume of work and the seriousness of the cases,” Haine said. “It’s about giving victims their day in court and delivering justice.”
Although not directly tied to the staffing shortage, recent high-profile cases have highlighted the stakes. In April, six men were arrested in a sting operation near Troy, Illinois. All are charged with felonies related to attempted sexual with minors, a growing crime trend in Madison County, Haine says.
Organizations like the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery, which provides emergency shelter and for children in unsafe situations, said they often rely on prosecutors and law enforcement to follow through after a child leaves their care.
“We can only do so much,” said Rachel Morgain, a team member at the Nursery. “We trust law enforcement and prosecutors to keep kids safe after they leave our doors. It’s a community lift.”
In Madison County alone, the Crisis Nursery helped more than 500 children last year. The nonprofit’s five regional centers provide everything from diapers and groceries to a safe place to sleep during family emergencies.
“We’re here to be proactive, to prevent abuse before it happens,” Morgan said.
Haine told First Alert 4 that the county has ed his efforts to boost recruitment. Over the past four years, base pay for prosecutors increased from around $50,000 to $75,000 annually, and several new positions have been created to help manage the caseload.
Still, he said, filling those roles remains one of the office’s top priorities.
“You have to prioritize law enforcement and the justice system, and when you do that, it has all sorts of ripple effects,” Haine said.
To learn more about openings, click here.
Copyright 2025 KMOV. All rights reserved.
